# I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a... | Nelson Mandela Quote

> Source: https://positivity.org/quotes/quote-nelson-mandela-i-am-not-a-saint

> I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.

## What This Quote Means

Every setback contains the seed of a greater comeback if we refuse to quit.

## About Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist who spent 27 years in prison before becoming the country''s first Black president.

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) emerged from 27 years of imprisonment to lead South Africa from apartheid to democracy through reconciliation rather than revenge.

## How to Apply This Wisdom

### One more step

When you feel like quitting, commit to just one more small effort.

### Track progress

Keep a record of your progress to see how far you have come.

### Learn from setbacks

Extract a lesson from every failure and apply it going forward.

## Reflection Questions

- What goal am I tempted to give up on that deserves more effort?

- How have I grown through persistence in the past?

- What keeps me going when I feel like quitting?

## More Quotes by Nelson Mandela

> Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

> It always seems impossible until it''s done.

> I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

> Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.

> Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.